A potential easing of trade tensions between the United States and Canada could reshape the North American aluminum market, with European buyers facing the risk of stronger competition for Canadian metal. Import data from ITC Trade Map shows that US purchases of Canadian unwrought aluminum fell sharply in 2025, while imports from Canada increased across six European markets, highlighting how trade flows have evolved amid tariff uncertainty. The United States imported approximately 2.03 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum from Canada in 2025, down 25.9% from 2.74 million metric tons in 2024. The decline amounted to around 711,494 metric tons over the year. Import value also decreased, falling 22.2% from $7.82 billion to $6.09 billion. The figures come as the possibility of a...
Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
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According to Shanghai Metals Market, China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) has shared its estimation today, May 31, that passenger vehicles sales will continue to trend downwards in the next two months. While in June, the sales volume is estimated to come in at 1.59 million units, in July at 1.56 million units, 1.9 per cent down month-on-month. Inventory pressure will spur dealers to extend promotional activities, CPCA believed. Separately, the wholesale of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in June is projected to inch down 7.6 per cent to 689,000 units, compared to 741,364 units in the same period last year. This, according to CPCA, is the smallest decline in comparison with other types of passenger vehicles. However, from 663,507 units in April 2019, the estimated wholesale volume of SUVs...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, the U.S. exports of aluminium scrap increased from 143,000 tonnes in March 2018 to 163,000 tonnes in March 2019, which indicates a 14 per cent growth year-on-year. On a month-on-month basis, exports increased 9.4 per cent from February’s export volume of 149,000 tonnes. Exports came in at 453,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2019, which was a 17.05 per cent increase from 387,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2018. China, South Korea and India remained to be the top three aluminium scrap importers from the U.S. Exports to China came in at 113,000 tonnes in three-month period of 2019 as compared to 178,000 tonnes in three-month period of 2018. In March alone, exports volume stood at 38,700 tonnes, up from 37,400 tonnes...
The Navratna PSU under Ministry of Mines, National Aluminium Company, has reportedly issued its performance report of fiscal 2019 ended on March 31, registering the best financial and production performance in a decade. With the net profit of INR 1,732 crore, Nalco posted a 29 per cent jump from the previous financial year. In fiscal 2018, Nalco’s net profit had come in at INR 1342.19 crore, INR 390 crore lesser than FY2019. Despite the year-on-year 9 per cent decline in net profit during the fourth quarter, amounting at INR 233 crore, the company has extended its soaring performance. Nalco’s net sales turnover for the financial year has come in at INR 11,386 crore, up 21 per cent over the year. Export earning of INR 4792.71 crore has also registered a growth of 18 per cent, compared to...
Can-One Bhd posted revenue of RM406.2 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared with RM310.5 million in the first quarter of 2018, according to its filing with Bursa Malaysia. Profit before taxation stood at RM261.3 million in Q1 2019, up from RM15.9 million in the same period last year. The increase in net profit was due mainly due to bargain purchase arising from the acquisition of Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd (KJCF) shares offset against loss on remeasurement of previously equity interest held in KJCF. “The bargain purchase gain recorded in Q1, 2019 was subject to revision upon the completion of the valuation process,” the Group said. The group said its profit after taxation increased from RM11.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 to RM256.3 million in the first quarter of 2019....
The US dollar came off from earlier highs on Thursday. LME base metals closed mixed on Thursday and aluminium fell 0.8%. SHFE base metals traded lower overnight and aluminium lost 0.2%. Three-month LME aluminium dropped 0.84% on Thursday to close at US$1,781 per tonne. LME aluminium inventories gained 27,400 tonnes on the day to 212,400 tonnes. LME cash contract declined 0.45% from Wednesday and closed at US$ 1762 per tonne on Thursday, 30 May 2019. LME aluminium is expected to trade rangebound at lows or try to regain some ground today. The contract is likely to trade at US$1,780-1,800 per tonne. As on May 30, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1761.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1762 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1786.50 per...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has extended its fall by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 14,180 per tonne on May 31, 2019. This marks the fourth consecutive decline since May 28. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,160 per tonne and RMB 14,200 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a discount of RMB 10 per tonne to a premium of RMB 30 per tonne. However, the decline in aluminium ingot today has not touched upon all the major cities in China, such as Wuxi, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Gongyi. The aluminium ingot prices there are therefore still hovering at RMB 14,170 per tonne, RMB 14,230 per tonne, RMB 14,210 per tonne and RMB 14,115 per tonne, respectively. Other cities have seen a decline in aluminium ingot price. In...
Australian Bauxite Limited’s Chairman Paul Lennon addressed shareholders at its 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Paul Lennon said that company has sold 120,000 tonnes of bauxite to date to its repeat customers. Australian Bauxite has supplied 110,000 tonnes of cement-grade bauxite and 10,000 tonnes of fertiliser grade bauxite. In April-May 2019, bauxite sale from Bald Hill Bauxite Project stood at 32,500 tonnes. “ABx’s cash at bank remains satisfactory and ABx stands ready to sell metallurgical grade bauxite as soon as possible whilst demand is strong and the Australian dollar exchange rate is attractive.” The company has a further 41,000 tonnes of product stockpiled at Bald Hill and sufficient broken ore stocks for quick delivery of the next sale. Australian Bauxite said that the...
Constella, a San Francisco based startup is focusing on providing Agile Work environment for tech companies and coming up with innovative ideas and designs for workplaces. The company has reinterpreted modern architecture and urban planning with their minimalist desk organizers using aluminium. Their DESKAPE range is a set of sleek aluminium desk organizers that captures the essence of modern workspace with compact designs that cater perfectly to desk organizing. Aluminum, the most abundant and versatile metal on Earth is a material suitable for use furniture, in construction, in food-packaging, transport and in consumer electronics and also for minimalistic home décor and necessity items. The aim of the Deskape series is to expand the use of aluminium in consumer electronics by creating...
The United States Forestry Service (USFS) has reportedly warned the Ghana government to be careful with its plan of bauxite mining in Atewa forest reserve, which is one of largest surviving rainforests in Ghana and considered to be one of the three areas for bauxite mining. The other areas are Nyinahin and Awaso. The USFS said, “There should be a comprehensive study of the costs and benefits of the plan, and development of a robust list of proven mitigation measures before any development takes place in Kibi.” After attending several meetings with stakeholders, residents, and traditional leaders within the Atewa enclave, the USFS thinks it is critical for the Ghana government to seriously evaluate other options to mining in the forest. According to a report by an agency, mining in Atewa...
To meet the need to increase the driving mileage of Electrical Vehicles (EVs), Aluminium China and its sister show Lightweight Asia in July, held in Shanghai by Reed Exhibitions, will showcase leading auto-aluminum brands committed to reducing the weight of next-generation EVs. While it is predicted that by 2020, the annual output of EVs in China alone will reach 2.42 million with 244 different models, representing an annual growth rate of 41%, ‘mileage concern’ still puts off many potential consumers. With current lithium battery sets, the average-cost EVs can be driven for only 100km. Reducing the weight of EVs is the best way to break the mileage barrier and motivate consumers to adopt them in greater numbers. It is estimated that for every 100kg saved, an EV can increase its mileage...
According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs, exports of aluminium extrusions, bars and rods in China increased by 13.93 per cent in April compared with the same period last year. The export volume of aluminium extrusions, bars and rods in April was 87,200, as updated by Shanghai Metals Market. Exports registered a growth of 0.6 per cent month-on-month, as the yuan weakened and as domestic market saturation drove producers to tap markets overseas. The yuan depreciated in April to a low of 6.7599 against the dollar in offshore trading. Aluminium extrusions, bars and rods exports contributed 17.52 per cent of the total exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products, and the share expanded 1.64 percentage points from the month before.
Though there is a fear of alumina shortage in China due to environmental checks, Chalco or Aluminum Corp of China Ltd will increase its alumina import alumina only if the international prices are low enough compared to domestic alumina. A company executive from its trading unit said this on Tuesday, May 28. Alumina market is under pressure due to environmental checks on refineries in China. A major refinery in Shanxi province was recently given closure notice following spillage of red mud waste, followed by another which is generating supply concerns in the domestic market. "We still need to look at the price. If the price is suitable we will import," Li Guangfei, deputy general manager of China Aluminum International Trading Co, a Chalco trading arm, said on the sidelines of the Shanghai...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, China’s aluminium alloy wheel export in April dropped 9.6 per cent month on month. In March 2019, the country’s aluminium alloy wheel export was around 63,642 tonnes, while in the last month it pegged at 70,400 tonnes. On the yearly basis, the export amount is down by 11.6 per cent. As per the SMM research, overseas demand and trade tensions were the two primary factors that extended weakness in China’s aluminium alloy wheel export for the month of April 2019. In January 2019, China’s aluminium alloy wheel export had come in 90,200 tonnes after rising 11.63 per cent from December 2018. In February, the export amount dropped to the lowest monthly exports in the last five years amounting at 53,700 tonnes, down 40.5 per cent month-on-month. Compared to...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.212 million tonnes as of Thursday May 30. Primary aluminium stocks declined 70,000 tonnes from 1.282 million tonnes on Thursday May 23, as updated by Shanghai Metals Market. Inventories continued to decline this week, due to limited arrivals and brisk demand. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 434,000 tonnes on Thursday, down 27,000 tonnes from 461,000 tonnes on Thursday May 23. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong, declined 14,000 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes from May 23 to stand at 251,000 tonnes and 255,000 tonnes. Inventories in Gongyi,...
The Port Authority of Bundaberg will reportedly support Australian Bauxite Limited (ASX: ABx) in investigating the opportunity to export bauxite in bulk tonnages through the port itself. On May 29, the Port Authority and ABx signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that gives an access to the latter to a vacant block of land to investigate its suitability for storage and loading large carrier ships at an annual volume of around 1 million tonnes per year. ABx has already worked with landholders, local government, state government, port authorities, mining contractors, and logistics companies to develop a viable strategy for this. Bulk sampling has also begun, according to the report, at the Binjour Project area, which ABx considers to be the best source of gibbsite-trihydrate (THA)...
The US dollar extended its gains on Wednesday amidst US-China trade tension. LME base metals closed lower on Wednesday and aluminium shed 0.4%. SHFE base metals performed similarly and aluminium lost 0.5%. Despite a 23,550 tonne decline in LME aluminium stocks, three-month LME aluminium declined 0.42% on Wednesday to close at US$1,796 per tonne, as the market remained focused on greater alumina supplies. LME cash contract also declined and closed at US$ 1770 per tonne. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,750-1,850 per tonne today. As on May 29, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1768 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1770 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1796 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1797 per tonne; Dec 20 bid...
Roeland Baan and Peter Kukielski were elected to join Hydro's Board of Directors for a period of up to 2 years, Hydro announced on Wednesday May 29. With the appointment of new members, Hydro’s Board now consists of Chair Dag Mejdell, Deputy Chair Irene Rummelhoff, Finn Jebsen, Thomas Schulz, Liselott Kilaas, Marianne Wiinholt, Roeland Baan, Peter Kukielski and the employee-elected board members Sten Roar Martinsen, Arve Baade and Svein Kåre Sund. Roeland Baan is from the Netherlands is currently CEO of Outokumpu, with previous experience from i.e. Aleris, Mittal Steel and Shell. Peter Kukielski is from South Africa recently stepped down as CEO of Nevsun Resources, with previous experience from i.e. Anemka Resources, Arcelor Mittal and Teck Resources.
The average spot alumina price registered a drop of RMB41 per tonne or 1.31 per cent on Thursday, 30 May 2019. Alumina price declined from RMB3119 per tonne to RMB3078 per tonne today. This marks the second consecutive drop in alumina price. Alumina price in East and Central dropped RMB20 per tonne each to stand at RMB3090 per tonne and RMB3100 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range at RMB3070- 3110 per tonne and RMB3090- 3110 per tonne. Alumina price in North stood at RMB3040 per tonne, down RMB80 per tonne. The average price is expected to range at RMB3020- 3060 per tonne. Alumina price in South remained unchanged at RMB3115 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price dropped RMB40 per tonne to come in at RMB14190 per tonne on Thursday. Aluminium ingot price was RMB14230 per...
